Mini Dental Implants
For those who are not able to receive typical implant treatments, mini dental implants can be an ideal treatment option. There are various reasons why some people are not ideal candidates for typical implant treatments, such as not having enough jaw bone and/or simply not feeling comfortable with invasive surgeries. For these individuals mini dental implants are definitely worth considering.
The Basics Of Dental Implants
Bridges, dentures, and dental implants are all treatment options for replacing missing teeth. Bridges and dentures are a kind of treatment where the false teeth end up resting on the gums’ surface, while in the case of dental implant treatment, implants get inserted into the jawbone itself allowing for the new false teeth to be fixed in place.
For this kind of implant procedure, a surgery is required for a small post (made of titanium) to be inserted into the jaw. The jaw bone will eventually fuse with this abutment (the small post), which can take anywhere from three to six months. Once the fusion takes place, another procedure is needed in which the implant gets exposed again, and a post is attached making a kind of “root” for a prosthetic tooth.
The Basics of Mini Implants
Like the name suggests, mini implants are simply dental implants that are compact in size. They have two parts: a very small titanium post (which has a piece on the end shaped like a ball), and a mini socket with a ring shaped piece that is used for attaching the tooth to the post. These mini implants are about half the size of regular implants.
What Mini Implants Are Able to Support
As with regular dental implants, mini implants function well with various kinds of treatments and are able to support dentures, bridges, and fixed crowns. They can also support securing loose dentures depending on the whole dental picture.
Implant Options
Some dental implant treatments require more than one visit. Some implant treatments can actually take several appointments and months to be fully installed. However, some people aren’t comfortable with or able to have invasive surgeries. And for some people repeated dental appointments are not ideal. Some patients don’t have enough jawbone mass to get full-size dental implants. In these cases, mini implants can be an ideal treatment. The mini implants are typically installed with just one dental visit. And the treatment only requires local anesthesia. Additionally, no suturing is needed. This allows patients to receive the new prosthetic teeth in just one day.
Mini Implants and Care
Mini implants require the same kind of care natural teeth do. Brushing and flossing twice a day (or more!) with a quality toothpaste and using a soft or extra soft toothbrush is considered ideal care, and will yield optimal results.
For some people losing a tooth, or teeth, can feel traumatic, which can make people lose their confidence in speaking, eating, and smiling. Mini dental implants allow a person to be able to speak and eat normally, and with confidence. Schedule a consultation with your dentist to discuss any interest or questions you may have about mini dental implants.